Continuity of Operations : Agency Plans Have Improved, but Better Oversight Could Assist Agencies in Preparing for Emergencies

To ensure that essential government services are available in emergencies, federal agencies are required to develop continuity of operations plans. According to FEMA, which is responsible for providing guidance for & assessing agency continuity plans, a key element of a viable capability is the proper identification of essential functions. A number of agencies & their components did not have continuity plans in place on Oct. 1, 2002, & those that were in place did not generally comply with FEMA's guidance. This report determines the extent to which: (1) major federal agencies used sound practices to identify & validate their essential functions & (2) agencies had made progress since 2002 in improving compliance with FEMA guidance. Illustrations.Koontz, Linda D. is the author of 'Continuity of Operations : Agency Plans Have Improved, but Better Oversight Could Assist Agencies in Preparing for Emergencies', published 2005 under ISBN 9781422300923 and ISBN 1422300927.